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RBRecursion vs Backtracking — Stop Confusing Them
Recursion is just a technique.
A function calling itself to solve smaller subproblems.
Use recursion when:
• You just need to count ways
• You need max/min
• You return true/false
• No need to explicitly undo choices
Backtracking is recursion with choices.
Use backtracking when:
• You have multiple options at each step
• You need to explore all paths
• You need to print all combinations/permutations
• You follow: choose → explore → unchoose
Remember this:
Every backtracking is recursion, but not every recursion is backtracking.
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![#Backtracking Reel by @howtoalgo (verified account) - 💡 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!
The Combination Sum problem shows how smart recursion saves time vs brute force.
From [2, 3, 6, 7] wit](https://image.pictame.com/img/557672534_17926964316133049_6557806824006164346_n.jpg?hash=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)
